Low-profile transparent storage for shoes

ABSTRACT

A shoe container is provided as a low profile, transparent bag comprising rugged and flexible material defined by first and second layers each having opposing first and second straight edges, where the first and second straight edges are longitudinally and oppositely spaced by an arcuate bottom edge and straight top edge. The first and second sides and arcuate bottom edges may be permanently bonded, respectively, to one another, while the top edges define an opening to receive shoes between the layers. The top edges may be further configured to receive means for cinching the top edges in a closed position so that when shoes are received therethrough, they may be secured within the bag. In this manner, the bag may support the weight and possibly destructive shape of contained shoes, protect shoes from damage caused by exposure, protect surroundings from debris tracked by unworn shoes, and further permit unimpeded view of shoes.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Not applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT RE. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain materialthat is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter that is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rightswhatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to storage containersand, more particularly, to transparent bags formed to accommodate shoesand further permit display of such shoes while not being worn.

BACKGROUND

It has long been known that the size and shape of shoes pose particularproblems when being stored in a stationary location or when beingtravelled with. The size of shoes varies widely, they often fail to fitefficiently in traditional travel cases, and, when soiled over thecourse of normal wear, are known to transfer debris to varioussurrounding articles. Moreover, various material comprising some shoes,such as leather, suede, and woven textile, may be particularly prone todamage from contact with surrounding articles.

Various solutions have been proposed. For instance, some people placeshoes in recycled polyethylene bags such as those obtained from grocerystores, when they wish to store or travel with them. Some repurposeother household items, placing their shoes in zippered food storage bagsor even elasticized shower caps. Some others still retain each and everycontainer the shoes had been originally provided in so that such shoesmay be stored in the original box when not worn. Dedicated shoe storagedevices have even been suggested to ease travel and carrying of excessfootwear. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,997,637 to Gebelien teaches asoft textile zippered bag formed to accommodate a pair of shoes for thepurpose of travel and storage. U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,897 to Seigfried, asanother example, teaches a collapsible travel bag having a plurality ofshoe pockets formed therein.

Suggestions for providing shoe storage and displaying stored shoes havealso been provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,029 to Campbellteaches a transparent or tinted hinged and lockable container having abase with depressions sized and shaped to receive at least one shoe of apredetermined size and shape. U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,781 to Langleydiscloses a hanging shoe bag having elongated, transparent pocketsinclude a closure strip to cover and protect portions of shoes extendingupwardly from the pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,599 to Jacob teachescylindrical, hanging bag for storing accessories and shoes. The bag haspockets made of thin transparent flexible sheets to improve visibilityof the accessories and shoes.

All of the above suggestions, however, have been deficient. Indeed, someare weak and insufficiently formed for repeated use. Others areunsightly and obscure rather than display shoes contained therein. Stillothers are maladapted to store shoes both at home and during travel.Others, especially those formed as boxes and rigid containers, aredifficult to store themselves when not being used to contain shoes.

Although various proposals have been made to solve the problem, none ofthose in existence combine the characteristics of the present invention.Therefore, there is a need for a low-profile and transparent bagconfigured to store and display shoes in various settings.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a rugged container for holdingshoes that is waterproof, washable, and reusable. More particularly, thecontainer for holding shoes may be transparent to permit viewing shoescontained therein and further define a low profile permitting easilyadaptable storage in a variety of settings.

For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures have been described. It is to be understood that not all suchadvantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught orsuggested.

A shoe container is provided as a low profile, transparent bagcomprising rugged and flexible material defined by first and secondlayers each having opposing first and second straight edges. The firstand second straight edges are longitudinally and oppositely spaced by anarcuate bottom edge and straight top edge. The first and second sidesand arcuate bottom edges may be permanently bonded, respectively, to oneanother, while the top edges define an opening between the layers. Thetop edges may be further configured to receive means for cinching thetop edges in a closed position so that when shoes are receivedtherethrough, such shoes may be secured within the bag. In this manner,the bag may support the weight and possibly destructive shape ofcontained shoes, protect shoes from damage caused by exposure while notin use, and further permit unimpeded view of shoes contained therein.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to protect shoes from damagecaused by exposure when not being worn.

It is another object of the invention to permit visible access to storedshoes.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide low profile meansfor storing and/or travelling with shoes where such means are adaptableto folding, bending, and other manipulation to fit in various settings.

It is even still another object of the invention to provide a lowprofile means for storing shoes that may, itself, be compactly storedwhen not in use to contain shoes.

One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certainalternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to theattached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limitedto any particular embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a storage apparatus in use in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a storage apparatus in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a storage apparatus in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a storage apparatus in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention.

The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to thefigures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attachedfigures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enablingdescription of the apparatus claimed. Attention is called to the fact,however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodimentsof this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting ofits scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention maybe practiced without some of the details included in order to provide athorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structuresand functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, referencewill now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings.While the disclosure will be described in connection with thesedrawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment orembodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover allalternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spiritand scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the storage container 10having shoes 30 placed therein is shown in use in one possible setting.The storage container 10 may be flexible enough to bulge with the shapeof such shoes 30 and avoid puncturing, stretching and tearing under theweight and possibly sharp elements of the shoes. Although shown hangingin a closet 40 among other articles commonly found therein, it iscontemplated that the ruggedness and flexibility of the materialscomprising the storage container 10 will enable users to place thestorage container 10 in innumerable settings. For example, it may beplaced in any of the drawers 50 drawn in the closet 40. Additionally,the storage container 10 may be placed in a suitcase or other travel bagamong other travel articles. Indeed, the flexibility of the storagecontainer 10 may ensure that users are able to save space by foldingunoccupied portions of the bag when packing or placing it in drawers.This may be space efficient, leaving room for other items within atravel bag or drawer.

Additionally, transparency permits view of the shoes 30 contained withinthe storage container 10.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a low-profile storage 10 for shoes maycomprise a first layer 12, a second layer 14. The first and secondlayers 12, 14 may comprise material chosen from any rugged and flexiblematerial capable of being made transparent. For instance, in someembodiments, the first and second layers 12, 14 may comprisecompositions of polypropelyne such as BOPP, vinyl such as PVC, and evenpolyurethane. Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize thatvarious materials are available in the marketplace, and interchangeablewith those listed, which are rugged, flexible, and transparent to permitrepeated use—including bending, folding, and washing—and further permitview of any contents within.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second layers 12, 14 may eachhave a first side 16 and a second side 18 longitudinally spaced from oneanother by a top edge 20, and a bottom edge 22. In some embodiments, itis contemplated that the first and second sides 16, 18 may be parallelto one another. It is further contemplated that the bottom edge 22 maybe arcuate.

The first and second sides 16, 18, and bottom edge 22 respective to eachof the first and second layers 12, 14 may be permanently bonded to eachof those of the other layer. In this manner, the first and second layers12, 14 may be connected to one another to define a closed end. In someembodiments, the first and second sides 16, 18, and bottom edge 22 maybe bonded respectively to those of the the opposing first or secondlayer 12, 14 using threaded stitching. For example, FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate a running stitch 24 applied to the perimeter of the first andsecond layers 12, 14. In other embodiments, the first and second sides16, 18, and bottom edge 22 may be bonded respectively to those of thethe opposing first or second layer 12, 14 using glue or other adhesive.It should be noted, however, that any product configured to inseparablybond the two layers to one another is contemplated and the foregoing areoffered by way of example only, not of limitation.

Because the container may comprise first and second layers 12, 14 assheets, the bonded layers define a container having a low-profile. It iscontemplated that providing a container having such low profile willpermit a user to store an unoccupied storage container 10 with littledifficulty. For instance, and with reference to FIG. 4, the storagecontainer 10 may be rolled to define the shape of a compact tube.Alternatively, an unoccupied storage container 10 may be efficientlystacked with others similarly unoccupied. Still others may be easily andcompactly folded to fit in small spaces. Thus, one skilled in the artwill recognize that users will have no difficulty space-efficientlystoring any storage containers 10 that are not in use.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the top edges 20 of each of the first andsecond layers 12, 14 remain unbonded to one another so that the topedges 20 define an opening sized to receive at least one pair of shoesbetween the first and second layers 12.

Finally, means for adjustably cinching the opposite top edges 20 tomaintain any shoes contained between the layers 12, 14 may also beprovided. In one embodiment, such means may comprise a drawstring 26threaded through openings 28 defined by folding over and stitchingportions of the opposite top edges 20. It is contemplated that providingmeans for adjustably cinching the opposite top edges 20 may allow a userto alternatively and flexibly accommodate shoes of different sizes andshapes within the same storage container 10. That is, because the topedges 20 may be adjustably cinched, it may be possible to open or closethe storage container 10 to achieve a smaller or larger volume, definedby the first and second layers 12, 14, as needed given a particular pairof shoes for storing. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it iscontemplated that providing a means for adjustably cinching the oppositetop edges 20 as a drawstring 26 may provide users with additionaloptions for placing the storage container 10. Here, in particular, anembodiment of the occupied storage container 10 is shown hanging in acloset 40 from the drawstring 26.

Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that means other than adrawstring may be used to adjustably cinch the top edges of the storagecontainer, and further, where a drawstring is used, such drawstring maybe comprise a variety of materials and dimensions without departing fromthe invention.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merelyexamples of possible implementations. Many variations and modificationsmay be made to the above-described embodiments without departing fromthe principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, various modifications are contemplated and can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, although transparent, it is contemplated that the low-profiletransparent container may be tinted with various colored dyes and evenpartially covered with opaque, aesthetic designs. Accordingly, it isintended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appendedclaim(s).

The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and maynot necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements andacts of the various embodiments described above can be combined toprovide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applicationsand other references, including any that may be listed in accompanyingfiling papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of theinvention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems,functions and concepts of the various references described above toprovide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the low-profile transparent container with whichthat terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in thefollowing claims should not be constructed to limit the low-profiletransparent container to the specific embodiments disclosed in thespecification unless the above description section explicitly definesuch terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only thedisclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing orimplementing the disclosed apparatus. The above description ofembodiments of the low-profile transparent container is not intended tobe exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to aparticular field of usage.

While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the apparatus aredescribed above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant artwill recognize.

While certain aspects of the apparatus disclosed are presented below inparticular claim forms, various aspects of the apparatus arecontemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reservesthe right to add additional claims after filing the application topursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the low-profiletransparent container.

1. A bag for containing a pair of shoes, comprising: a transparent firstand second layer, each of the first and second layers having parallelfirst and second edges longitudinally spaced by an arcuate bottom edgeand a straight top edge; the opposite first, second, and bottom edgespermanently and respectively bonded via threaded stitching to oneanother to define a closed bottom end; the opposite top edges definingan opening to receive at least one pair of shoes between the first andsecond layers; and means for adjustably cinching the opposite top edgesto maintain any shoes contained between the layers.
 2. The bag of claim1, wherein the first and second layers comprise sheets of biaxiallyoriented polypropylene.
 3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond layers comprise sheets of polyurethane.